Vending-machine



(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

ELD. 1:II1\ICK'L`1:".Y.`

VENDING MACHINE l N5. 455,508. Patented July 7, 1891.

ma Noam! paens m., wom-mnu wAsumuTorl, n. c`

(No Model.)

. ,s-snees-snem. Hr D.,HINCKLEY. Y Y VBNDING MACHINE.

No. 455,508.` Patented July 7,1891.

:ma mams' evene ca, muni-mnd, ummm nA e.

(No Modem' 5 sheetssheen 4.

H. D. HINCKLEY.

VBNDING MACHINE. No. 455,508. Patented July 7, 1891.

WW KfW/M UNITED STATES Pai-ENT OFFICE.

HENRY D. HINCKLEY, OFHARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF'TO JOHN G. RICH, OF AUBURN, NEV YORK.

VENDING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 455,508, dated July 7, 1891.

Application filed April 2, 1891.

To a/ZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY D. HINCKLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hartford, in the county Aof Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vending-h/Iachines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to automatic vending-machines in which articles of merchandise are exchanged for coins. l

The object and nature of the invention are v set forth in the following description.

In the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a front elevation of a duplex vending-machine embodying my present improvement. Fig. 2 is a transverse Vertical section of the machine in line a ct of Fig.w1 and looking toward the left hand in said figure. Fig. 3 is a plan view of 'the machine, drawn partly in section, the more clearly to show the construction and arrangemet of the interior parts. Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are enlarged sectional views illustrative of the operation of the lock mechanism. Figs. 7, 8, and 9 are cross-sectional Views at or near the line b b, Fig. 3, of the goods-delivering apparatus, illustrating the general operation and construction of the mechanism. Fig. 10 is a front elevation of the lock-carrying slide, to-

gether with certain minor details. Figs. 11 and 12 are plan'views illustrative ofthe construction and operation of the coin receivers or gages. Figs. 13 and 14 are sectional views of the same in lines c e anda: of Figs. 11 and 12, respectively. Fig. 15 is a front View, and Fig. 16 a side elevation, ofthe adjustable back plate of the goods-carrier. Fig'. 17 is a front View, and Fig. 18 an end view, of the adjustable front plate of the goods-carrier. Fig. 19 is a plan view of one of the goods-carriers removed from the machine.

Similar characters designate like parts in all the figures.

The casing or cabinet, which contains the working parts of my improved machine, as herein shown, consists of the base B, the front wallC, the rear wall D, the side walls E and F, and the coverG. In the front wall and cover I usually insert glass panels C' andV G', respectively, through which to observe'the `goods and mechanism within thecase. In

`D of the back wall D, Fi@ 9 .said plate 6.

Serial No. 387.371. (No model.)

Fig. lV the two glass panels are supposed to be in place, but to be invisible by reason of their transparency. In Fig. 3 a part of the upper panel G is supposed to be instance nothing is shown in the drawings underneath said cover-panel- In Figs. 2, 7, 8, and 9 thel front panel is shown in section and is to be fixed by suitable means in the position shown in Fig. 2. l

At some distance above the base B the case or cabinet has a horizontal wall or'fioor H, on which the goods-delivering mechanisms are assembled and beneath which is the coin-receiving space N. Access to this space isusually had through a door (not shown) in the end wall E of the casing, while the interior may be viewed through the -window 29, which is set in the back wall D. The upper portion g. is preferably constructed to form a door, being connected to the lower part D by hinges at 3l and provided at its upper edge with a suitable lock (not shown) for securing the case against access to unauthorized persons. Similarly the top door G is hinged at 39, and is to be provided with suitable means (not shown) for locking the same closed. These two doors furnish ample facility for reaching the interior mechanism.

The reciprocatable slides or goods-carriers are of composite construction,and,being duplicates, a detailed description of one of them will be a sufficient description of both. Each goods-carrier consists of a block 2, the protector or fixed front plate 3, rigidly attached to the said blocl{,the adjustable front platei, and the adjustable back plate 6, composing the goods-receiving box or hopper of the carrier. The block 2 is bored to receive the fixed thimble 5', which is threaded to receive the screw 7 for regulating the capacity of the goods-carrier by vertically adjusting the aforelhe front plate 4, which is shown' in detail in Figs. 17 and 18, may be a casting,

shown; but in this Y or, if preferred, may be formed of sheet metal cut and bent to the required size and shape. Said front plate rests on top of the block 2, and is slotted at 4', Figs. 7, 8, 9, and 19, to receive the groove-headed elevating-screw 7 for raising and lowering said plate. The back plate 6 (one of which is shown in detail in IOO Figs. '15 and 16) rests on top of the rearward portion (at the right-hand in Figs. 2, 7, 8, and 9) of the front plate 4, and is slotted, as shown at 6 6, to receive the binding-screws 8 8, which pass through the said slots in the back plate and firmly screw into the front plate, so as to allow of a forward and backward adjustment of the back plate relatively to the front plate. By means of this construction both the width and depth of the goods-receiving hoppers are made adjustable, thus allow.

ing of considerable variation of the capacity of the said hoppers, both as to the number of cigars and the sizes of them. The back plate 6, being fixed to the front plate 4, is verticallyadjustable therewith by means of the elevating-screw 7. As will be understood from Figs. 15 and 16, the back plate 6 has formed thereon a series of fingers, as 9, which fingers extend below the upper surface of the slide-base 11 into a corresponding number of mortises, as 9', formed therein. Said slide-base 11 rests on the'fioor 1I of the casing and forms a bed or supportfor the two goods-carriers,wl1ose slides 2 2 are guided thereon by suitable gibs, as 2', substantially as shown, in a wellknown manner.

Theblocks 2 of the goods-carriers each have fixed therein an actuating-rod 16, which rods extend rearwardly and'engage with the lock mechanism in a manner hereinafter more fully set forth. A fian ge or stop-collar-12 is formed on each of said rods, whereby to return the slides after these have been drawn forward. This is accomplished by means of the arms 14, which are bored at their outer ends to receive the rods. Said arms 14, being formed on or fixed to the lock-carrying slide M by screws, as shown in the drawings, engage the collars 12 to returnthe slides 2 on the returnstroke of said lock-carrying slide.

The lock-carrying slide (designated in a general way by M, and preferably a casting of the form shown) is fitted to slide on the guides 13, which are partially embedded in the fioor H, as shown best in Fig. 10. The slide M, as shown in the drawings, is of course designed for a machine having two goodscarriers, and which is otherwise constructed and furnished for vending two sizes, varieties, or qualities of goods. Accordingly the slide M is arranged for carrying two locks, one for each goods-carrier; but as these locks are alike in form and construction, except that one is made right hand and the other left hand, a description of one of them is deemed sufficient for both.

Referring to Figs. 3 to 10, inclusive, it will be seen that theslide M, which is actuated by hand throughthe rod 8O and the handle 82 has at the opposite ends thereof suitable arms, as 15, for carrying the aforesaid revolublymounted lock. The arm 15 is bored to receive the reduced end 16 of the revoluble lock 20, which is fitted to turngfreely in the said arm 15, and is held in place therein by means of a nut, as 17. Said lock or stud 2O has formed thereon an arm or lever 1S, having at its outer end a pin 19 for engaging at the proper time the fixed cam-plate 24. The stud 20 has also another arm 21, which may be a pin fixed in the solid outer end of said stud, which arm is designed to engage the coin, and thereby rotate the stud 2O on the forward movement of the slide M, as hereinafter more fully described.

A suitable spring, as the coiled spring 22 on thestud 20, is provided for retracting the lock-stud and its lever-arms, one end of said spring being fixed in the arm 15 and the opposite end in the stud. Said spring is for the purpose of holding the stud 20 normally in the position shown in Figs. 4 and 6, with the axis of the bore 23 thereof normally in alignment with the aforesaid rodV 10, as in Figs. 4 and 6.

The coin-gage or coin-receiver is located immediately below the lock when this is in its rearward position. The plate or bed-piece 25 of said receiver has therein an opening 26 for the coin, and is provided with ribs 2S to serve as guides for the gage-slide 30. This slide (also designated as the coin-releaser) has formed therein a coin-slot 26 (similar to the slot 26 of the bed-piece 25,) and also has formed thereon a projection or coin-stop 32, whose purpose is to limit the movement of the coin, as hereinafter more fully set forth.

A spring 34 is provided, carried on a pin 35, which is fixed in the slide 30, said spring reacting against the abutment 36 of the bedpiece 25 for holding the said slide normally in the working position shown in Figs. 11 and 13. Said pin should be fitted to slide freely through a hole in the abutment 36, as indicated in the drawings, Figs. 13 and 14. The cam-shaped inner end 37 of the slide 30 engages the cam 40 of the lock-carrying slide M. Said cam 40, which is also designated as the release-actuator, is provided for the purpose of throwing forward the slide 30V to bring the aforesaid slots 26 and 26 into align` ment, as, shown 1n Figs; 12 and 14, on the forward movement of the said slide M.

The coin K is to be put by the customer into the slot at 42 at the top of the casing, when the coin slides down through the coinchute L, strikes the stop 32, and lodges in the position shown in Fig. 13, resting on the plate 25 at the left hand thereof and partially in the slot 26. If the slide M be now drawn for ward, the cam 40 on said slide operates to push back the slide 30 against the power of the spring 34, thus bringing the slots 26 and 26 into alignment, as illustrated in Figs. 12 and 14,*thereby allowing the coin to freely pass through the said slots (and through the opening 44 in the fioor H of the casing) and fall into the coin-box N. On reti-actingthe slide M, the spring 34 resets the gage-slide 30 in its position, (shown in Figs. 11 and 13,) ready for receiving and supporting another coin.

The machine shown in the drawings being' IIO arranged for vending cigars means are re-` quired for supporting the cigarbox. For this purpose a shelf is pivotally supported at its forward and lower end at 4G in the side Walls E and F of the casing, and is supported at its rearward end on pins, as 47, which fit` into one of a series of holes 48, that are. formed in the said lend Walls. A number of said holes 48 are provided, so that the inclination of the shelf 45 may be regulated by shifting the pins 47 from a lower to a higher position,

f or vice versa.

Vzo

In preparing my machine for operation the cover of the box P, containing the cigars to be vended, should be removed and also one end thereof, when the box is placed on said shelf 45, as shown in Fig. 2,' with its forward vend projecting into the goods-delivering hopper. The cigars fall or slide from the box P into said hopper,- and from thence pass down into the hereinbefore-described goods-carrier, and are finally delivered to the receptacle R, from which they may be taken by the purchaser. The sides 50 and 52 of the aforesaid receptacle R extend upwardly and rearwardly.

the position shown in Fig. 2, by means ofv springs, as 53, one end of which springs are attached to Vthe said back piece 49 and the opposite ends to suitable pins, as 54, xed in the side pieces 50 and 52. (See Figs. 2 and 3.)

As will be best understood from Fig. 1, I have provided supplemental side pieces for the hopper, said pieces being adjustable to provide for cigars of different lengths. Said supplemental side pieces 56and 58 are supported by suitable pins, as 55, which are fixed in said pieces, and are tted to freely slide in the hubs orbosses 57, that are formed on said hoppersides. provided to secure said supplemental side pieces in any desired position. In Fig. l these side pieces or side guides are shown set farthest apart in the right-hand apparatus and set'nearer together in theleft-hand apparatus. Stops or pins, Las 60, Figs. l and 2, are provided on the inner sides of the pieces 56 and 58, against which the forward end of the box P may rest, thus preventing said box from being placed too far forward on the shelf 45. A

lVhen the box of cigars has been prepared, as described, and properly placed on the shelf 45, the cigars will roll or slide from the box and fill the delivery-hopper T, as shown by the several dotted circles 76 in Fig. 2.

In practice there is a possibility of the cigars clogging in the hopper T, and to obviate this accident the back of said hopper is pivotally arranged, as above described, and is furnished with an apparatus for swinging back the said back-piece 49 on its pivots each time that the goods-carrier is drawn Ordinary set-screws, as 59, are

has Abeen operated. vant of the store or place where the machine back to placesuddenly by means of the springs 53, thus shaking the cigars and'lnak` ing them settle down into place. Said vibratory or shaking apparatus may properly be constructed and arranged as follows: Arockshaft 62 is fitted to turn freely in suitable bearings, as 63 and 65, which are fixed by means of screws or otherwise to the side walls E and F of the casing. The arm 64 is fixed on said shaft, and is connected at its upper end by means of a link 68 to the movable back piece 49 of the hopperT. A similar arm 70, similarly fixed on the rock-shaft 62, has freely pivoted thereon at 72 a pawl 73. A stop-pin 74 is fixed in thelower end of the arm to engage the pawl 73. An arm 75, preferably a stiff piece of metal, is fixed onto the rearward end of the block 2, (see Figs. 7, 8, and 9,) and on the forward movement of the goods-carrierV engages said pawl 73, and through said pawl the pin 74, and the arms and link above described swings backthe back-piece 49 on its pivots 51,in practice generally from one-tenth to one-fourth of an inch. When the arm 75 has moved forwardfar enough to allow it to pass underneaththe pawl 73, then the springs 53 instantly throw the back piece 49 back lto place, as set forth. The lock-carrying slide M is or may be actuated by means of a pull-rod 80, which is firmly attached thereto, and is furnished with a suitable handle, as 82. Said rod passes through IOO the slide-base 1l and carries a spring'84 for retracting the slide M when the operator releases the handle.

In Figs. 2 and 3 I have shown a signal-bell 77 carried by the base ll. A bell-hammer 78 is carried on the rock-shaft 79, which shaft is IIO the lever 85 on the forward movement of the goods-carrying slide, thus drawing back the hammer 78. lVhen the goods-carrier passes forward Vto the end of its stroke, the hook 87- passes beyond and releases the lever S5, when the hammer strikes the bell 77, thereby calling attention to the fact that the machine This enables any attendis used to observe the customer, andthu's guard against fraudulent attempts to misuse the apparatus. Y

InFigs. 2,Y 7, and 8 the goods-carrier is shown set for receivingv fivev cigars at a time, the plates 4 and G being properly raised therefor.

In Fig. 9 the'goods-carrier is shown adjustedfor receiving only three cigars. In this case` and unless provided against there would be an opening between thelower edger i of the back plate 49 and the said`goods-car A rier. To cover this opening and to prevent the cigars falling out of the hopper, I yhave provided an adjustable cover, as 88, preferably made of sheet metal andprovided with a clamp-screw 89, by means of which said cover may be adjusted on the back of the hopper to come close down to the plate 4, whateverits height. For a similar reason the front plate 90 of the goods-receptacle is made vertically adjustable by means of the screws 91 and 92, (see Figs.1,2,and 7 to 9, inclusive,) the upper end 93 of said plate 90being formed with 'a slot 94, Fig. 9, to inclose the loweredge of the glass panel C. The adjustment of said plate 90 is illustrated in Figs. S and 9, showing its upper and lower positions, respectively, always with the horizontal part 83 just above the upper side of the plate 4.

The general operation of the machine is as follows: The hopper T being suitably supplied with goods and the goods-carrier and the accessory plates 90 and S8 being properly adjusted, the customer drops the required coin into the coin-chute L, which delivers the coin to the coin supporter or receiver, as shown at K in Fig. 13. Next the handle 82 is seized and the slide M drawn forward from its position in Figs. 2 and 3 to its position.

shown in Figs. 7 Vand 8. On the firstforward movement of said slide INI the arm 21 of the lock 2O strikes the coin K, as illustrated in Fig. 4, and as the slide advances said arm 21 of saidlock is shifted from its position in Fig. 4to its position in Fig. 5, at the same time bringing the crank-arm pin 19 above the guide-arm 24, as shown in Fig. 5, and bringing the bore 23 of said lock out of alignment with the push-rod 10, so that on the continued forward movement of the slide M the lock bears against said rod and pushes forward the goods-carrier from its position in Fig. 2 to its position in Fig. A thereby carrying the goods in said carrier forward of the base 2 and permitting them to discharge into the-receptacle R. During said forward movement and after the lock has reached the position shown in Fig. 5 the cam 40 acts upon the coin-releaser 30 to throw this from the position shown in Fig. 13 to the position'shown in Fig. 14, thereby releasing the coin, which falls, as hereinbefore described, into the box N. The goods having been received by the customer, he releases the handle 82, when the spring 84 throws back the slide M to its original position, (shown in Figs. 2 and 3,) thereby, as hereinbefore described, resetting the coin gage or releaser 30 and also permitting the lock 2O to resume-its original position, (shown in Fig.4.) When the slide M is drawn forward, there being no coin at K, Figs. 4, 5, and 13, the lock 20 is not turned, as described, but remains in its original position, and in going forward passes freely over the rod 10, leaving the goods-carrier in its original position. This mode of operation of the apparatus is illustrated in Figs. 6 and 8, wherein said slide M is drawn forward, the goods-carrier and its rod 10 remaining retracted. 1

In practice, as hereinbefore mentioned, each of the two goods-carriers is generally supplied with the different qualities or kinds of goods. Should the customer desire to receive some of each kind simultaneously, he has only to drop the proper coins into the respective coin-chutes, when by drawing forward the handle 82 each of the goods-carriers will be operated.

It will be understood that one advantage of the adjustable goods-carrier is that different quantities of the same goods (or of dierentgoods) may be sold from the same cabinet.

Having thus described my invention, I Claim- 1. In a vending-machine,A the combination, with a reciprocatable goods-carrier, of a handactuated slide, a goods-carrier-actuating lock revolubly mounted on said slide and having a projecting arm, and a coin-supporter located in the path of said arm and forward thereof when said hand-actuated slide is in its rearward position, whereby on the forward movement or the slide the lock is shifted by a coin present in said supporter into position for engaging the goods-carrier to actuate the same, substantially as described.

2. In a vending-machine, the combination, with the reciprocatable goods-carrier having the projecting push-rod, of a hand-actuated slide, a perforated lock, substantially as described, revolubly mounted on said slide in alignment with said push-rod and having a 'projecting arm, and the coin-supporter 1ocated in the path of said arm and forward thereof when said slide is in its rearward p0- sition, whereby on the forward movement of the slide the lock is shifted by the coin present in said supporterto throw said perforation out of alignment with said rod and bring the lock into engagement with the rod to actuate the goods-carrier, substantially as described.

3. In a vending-machine, the combination, with the goods-carrier and its push-rod-and with a coin-supporter, of the hand-actuated slide, the carrier-actuating lock revolubly mounted on said slide and having an arm set for engaging the coin, and a coin set to engage the lock after this is set into vits operative position by the coin, substantially as described.

4. In a vending-machine, the combination, with the goods-carrier and its push-rod and with a coin-supporter having a coin-releaser, of the hand-actuated slide, the carrier-actuating lock revolubly mounted on said slide andhaving an arm set for engaging the coin, means engaging and holding the lock after roo this is set into its opei'ative position and during the forward movement thereof, and a releaser-actnator on the hand-actuated slide, whereby the coin is released after the operation of the lock, substantially as described.

5. Ina vendi ng-machine, the combination, with the' hand-actuated. slide carrying the lock revolubly mounted thereon and having the coin-engaging arm and the lever-arm 18, of a coin-supporter located in the path of said coin-engaging arm and a fixed cam set toengage the lever 18 when the lock has been actuated by a coin and to pass clear of said lever in theY absence of a coin, substantially as described.

6. In a vending-machine, the combination, with the hand-actuated slide and a lock, substantially as described, mounted on said slide, of the'coin-supporter having the releaser and a cam actuating said releaser from vand dun ing the forward movement of vthe hand-actuated slide, substantially as described.

7. In a vending-machine, the combination, with the slotted base 25, of the releaser-slide on said base and correspondingly slotted for the ooin,the coin-chute set to deliver the coin to said slots, and a spring normally holding the releaser in position to substantially as described.

8.-In a vending-machine, the combination, with the hand-actuated slide, ot' the coin-supporter consisting of the slotted `base and the slotted releaser movable on said base, means delivering the coin to said slots, a spring normally holding the releaser in position for supporting the coin. and Vthe cam on the handactuated slide operating the releaser to release the coin on the forward movement of said hand-actuated slide, substantially as described.

9. In a vending-machine, the combination,

support the coin,

.with a goods-carrier and its push-rod and with a coin-supporter, of the hand-actuated v slide, the lock 20, revolubly mounted on said slide in alignment with said push-rod, said push-rod being constructed to pass through the lock on the forward movement thereof and having a stop 12, means, substantially as described, constructed to actuate the lock by a coin Vin the coin-supporter, and means on said hand-actuated slide engaging said`stop to retract the goods-carrier,.substantially as described.

10. In avendingmachine, the combination, in the goods-carrier and with the slide thereof, of the plates 3 and 4.-, carried on said slide, and means Aelevating the plate 4 for regulatsaid vertically-adjustable plate, substantially as described. v Y

12. Ina vending-machine, the combination, with the goods-carrier adjustable inV height, of theV delivery-hopper and the adjustable plate carried on the rear wall of said hopper and adjustable vertically to the carrier, substantially as described.

13. In a vending-machine, the combination, with the goods-carrier adjustable in height, of the delivery-hopper having the front wall Oan'd the guard-plate set forward of the carrier and vertically adjustable, said guardplate being constructed to engage the lower edge ot' said front wall, substantially as described.

14. In a vending-machine, the combination, with the goods-carrier and with the deliveryhopper over said carrier, of the pivotally-supported rearward hopper-wall, means, subst-an` tially as described, normally holding said wall in position, and an actuating device, substantially as described, intermediate to the carrier and said wall and having therein a pawl, allowing the carrier to move in one direction without actuatingthe 'wall,.substanv tially as described.

15. In a vending-machine, the combination, with the goods-carrier and the vibratory wall,

of a spring normally holding said wall in its forward position, a rocker, substantially as described, connected tosaid vibratory wall andhaving the pawl, and anY arm on vthe goods-carrier set to engage said pawl and thereby operate the vibratory wall of the hopper on the movement of the goods-carrier, substantially as described.

16. In avending-machin'e, the combination, with theldelivery-hopper thereof an'd with the means supporting the box P, of the adjust` ably-supported side pieces 5G and 5S, substantially as described.

l HENRY D. HINCKLEY.

Vitnesses: HENRY L. REOKARD,

I-I. MALLNER;

IGC 

